Christmas Cacti, also known as Thanksgiving Cacti and Schlumbergera, bright up many gardens thanks to their green leaves and colorful flowers. However, these cacti are susceptible to light, water, and soil changes, which can cause their leaves to change color.
So, why is a Christmas Cactus turning yellow, purple, or white?
- Yellow – nutritional issues, rootbound, excessive exposure to light
- Purple – lack of magnesium, lack of sunlight, crowded roots
- White – improper watering and humidity
They can also turn pink or brown. Solutions include transplanting the cactus, moving it to a better-lit spot, and watering it correctly.
While these conditions are not life-threatening at first, promptly resolving them can guarantee the health of your plant for many years to come. Check out all you need to know below!
Christmas Cactus Turning Yellow
A Christmas cactus that is turning yellow is most likely in need of better nutritional habits. Indeed, plants produce food from sunlight through photosynthesis. However, they also absorb the necessary nutrients from the soil or potting mix.
Nutrient deficiencies can cause the green leaves to turn yellow as the plant is not able to manufacture enough compounds to sustain the health and development of the leaves. In turn, these deficiencies can derive from root rot, too much direct light, and rootbound.
Moreover, in the case of too much sun, the leaves might turn yellow because the heat causes the moisture in them to evaporate before it can be replaced.
Causes and Solutions
- Root rot – Christmas cactus need just enough water to survive, yet they suffer if overwatered. Either a single episode or an incorrect water regimen can cause root rot. This disease causes the decay and weakening of the root ball. As the roots start to rot, the plant won’t be able to absorb the necessary nutrients. Transplant your plant into fresh soil immediately, trimming the ruined roots.
- Need for re-potting – while not as apparent, your Christmas cactus might be suffering from rootbound or pot bound. This condition can emerge when the plant has overgrown its original container, and its root needs more space to thrive. A rootbound plant will have roots emerging from the soil or drainage holes. To save it, re-pot it into a bigger container.
- Too much light – as we have seen, prolonged exposure to direct light can be detrimental for this plant. The high temperatures and sun can cause the nutrients and moisture in the leaves to evaporate before the plant can replenish them. This condition leaves the plant droopy, wilting, yellowish, and curly. Episodes of sunscald are also possible, especially in the summer months.
Christmas Cactus Turning Purple
The main culprits for a plant that is turning purple are improper nutrition and sun exposure. Crowded roots can prevent the plant from getting the necessary compounds and minerals from the soil. The lack of sunlight, especially during the winter months, can cause the leaves to lose their green color.
Moreover, it is essential to note the peculiar needs of a Christmas Cactus when it comes down to the nutritional values of the soil. Indeed, these plants need a much higher amount of nitrogen than several other house and garden plants. If you don’t fertilize it regularly, this condition can cause the leaves to change color, from green to yellow or pink.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on May 15, 2020.
Causes and Solutions
- Lack of magnesium – there is an easy solution to the potential lack of magnesium that your plant is manifesting: Epsom Salt or Magnesium Sulfate. This substance promotes the production of chlorophyll, the compound that helps the green color in plant’s leaves. A teaspoon of Epsom salt diluted in a gallon (3.7liters) of water fed once a month in the soil can balance the plant’s need for magnesium.
- Crowded roots – If your plant is rootbound or potbound, it will struggle to absorb the necessary nutrients even if the soil does contain them. Re-potting your plant into a larger pot can be hugely beneficial for its health. In this case, opt to add a magnesium-rich fertilizer into the new soil once a month.
- Improper sunlight – in most cases, the purple color derives from a lack of sunshine. However, too much sunlight can be just as detrimental. Move the plant in a brighter or more shaded corner, depending on the season to adjust the light it receives.
Christmas Cactus Turning White
A Christmas Cactus that is turning white can do so as a consequence of several environmental factors. In most cases, this is also the result of a combination of poor habits such as low humidity levels, improper sunlight exposure, and inadequate watering.
These factors often lead to a decrease in levels of iron and other nutrients in the plant, which, in turn, causes a reduction in chlorophyll, the segment responsible for the green color of the leaves. If your plant is losing its color, you will have to evaluate its environment and understand what is causing the issue.
Causes and Solutions
- Improper watering and too much sun – when combined, these two factors can prevent the plant from absorbing the necessary nutrients for its development. Indeed, without water and excessive sun, the plant can become sunscalded or sunburned. At first, this will look like white patches, but it can develop into brown streaks over time.
- Low humidity – While usually undemanding, Christmas cacti need up to 50% to 60% humidity in their surrounding environment to thrive. Of course, they can be grown in any home, but you might need to adjust the level of humidity by misting the leaves or providing a pebble-lined tray under the pot.
Christmas Cactus Turning Other Colors
A Christmas Cactus has many ways of telling its owner that there is something wrong with its environment. While it is likely to turn yellow, purple, or white, if it is suffering from nutritional deficiencies, it can also become pink (reddish) or even brown.
- Pink – A Christmas Cactus that is turning pink or reddish might do so as a consequence of a lack of magnesium in the soil. It is the first stage of it becoming purple. By adding the necessary fertilizer and nutrients into the ground at this stage, you will be able to bring back its green color much faster.
- Brown – if not only the leaves but also the stems are turning brown, you might be dealing with Stem Rot. This disease, as well as root rot, is one of the most severe and hard to treat, especially if the plant already shows lesions in the leaves. After evaluating if the plant is worth saving, you should proceed to remove the plant from its container and wash the roots under running water.
Subsequently, cut off the affected roots (with sterile shears) and get rid of the ones that are weak or show signs of fungus. You can also opt to trim some of the affected and longest stems of the plant. Indeed, the more stems the plant has, the more energy it will need to sustain its growth. Reducing the plant to a limited number of stems helps it focus its energy on its regrowth and healing process.
Final Thoughts
Christmas cacti are an undemanding and tolerant plant that can improve the look of any home or garden. While they can yield rewards for any cultivator, you should watch out for some environmental factors that can affect the color of its leaves. Indeed, if the leaves are turning yellow, this is due to a lack of nutrients or too much sun.
ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on May 15, 2020.
Alternatively, plants that are turning purple do so due to a lack of magnesium or space in the container. Lastly, white leaves are a sign that the levels of chlorophyll are low, and the plant cannot produce the necessary pigments.